Air-motor device for bicycles



.1.. LABAK. AIR MOT-0R DEVICE FOR BICYCLES.' APPLICATION FILED AUG271 1920 -RENEWED DCT. 3| |921.

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AIR MOTOR DEVICE FORBICYCLES.v

APPLICM'ION FILED AUG.27|1920 RENEWED OCT. 3.1921. 1,410,326.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

. T-roRNEv WITNES:

J. LABAK. AIR MOTOR DEVICE FOR BICYCIES. APPLICATION. FILED AUG.2I, 1920. RENEWED DCT. 3. 192|.

Patented Mar. 21,1922.

l 3 'SHEETS-SHEET 3- l WITNBS:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LABAK, or CANTON, omo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AIR-MOTOR DEVICE FOR` BICYCLES.

.Application led. August 27, 1920, Serial No. 406,270. Renewed October 3, 1921. Serial No. 505,114.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LJOHN LABAK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Starkand State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air-Motor Devices for Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to bicycles and has for its object the provision of a bicycle equipped with an air motor driven by compressedv air stored in a reservoir tank by pumping means actuated during the coasting o f the bicycle down hill, the air assisting 'in thepropulsion Aof the bicycle under normal conditions.

An important object is the provision of a bicycle which is designed to be initially started by pedal means and which has associated with the rear wheel axle a plurality of pumps forV compressing air within a storage tank and provided with means whereby either or both pumps may be rendered inoperative, the storage tank being provided lwith an outlet control valve whereby to control the speedof the airmotor, this valve being -controlled by a movable grip on the handle bars.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will' be comparatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly eilicient and laborrsaving in use, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists inA the' details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described yand claimed and illustratedin "the accompanying drawingsin which,- f

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed in accordance withV my invenn f tion,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View,

i Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the rear wheel showing the pump actuating means, and

`Figa is asectional detail view.

Referring' more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the frame Iwhich is of the customary shape and which 'has its various bars formed hollow. The

numeral 11 designates the front wheel carried by the usual fork 12 journaled through the head 13. The fork is controlled by the usual handle bars 14, one of which is-provided with a movable grip 15. The numeral 16 designates the rear wheel having an .axle 17.

The frame is provided with the usual crank anger 18 having pedals 19 and equipped with a sprocket 2O about which is trained a chain 21 leading around a sprocket 22 on the rear wheel. The axle of the rear wheel is provided with any of the well knownY or any preferred type of coaster brake, details of which are believed to be unnecessary.

Located at the bottom portion of the frame is .a compressed air motor 23 which has an inletpipe 24 leading from a compressed air storage tank 25 supporting thereabove and this pipe 241 is provided with a control valve 26 operatively connected with the movable grip 15 whereby the valve may be opened to the desired extent. Located near the handle bars is a suitable air gage 27 which communicates with the uppermost hollow bar of the frame 10 and it will be observed that this hollow bar communicates with the front hollow bar 10l which in turn communicates with the tank 25.

Mounted below the upper portion of the frame 10 is a pump v28 whichhas its piston 29 connected by apitman V30 with an eccentric 31 on the rear axle 17, the pitman carrying an ordinary eccentric strap 30a engaging-within a'groove in the. eccentric. The pump: cylinder 28 communicates with the lupper hollow bar 10 of the frame through a pipe 28EL provided with a check valve 28h. Supported at the rear of the frame above the rear wheel is a second air pump 32 which has its piston 33 connected by a pitman 34 with a second eccentric 35 on the rear axle, the pitman carrying an ordinary eccentric strap 3413 engaging with a groove in the eccentric 35.

The rear hub A is provided with any suitable or preferred coaster brakemechanism whereby the sprocket 22 may be heldstationary and the machine be allowed to coast. This coaster brake mechanism is not illustrated as it is so well known in the art that Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

it forms no part of the present invention. The letter B designates the end of the rear hub adjacent the sprocket and which serves to partially enclose whatever coaster brake mechanism might be employed.

Both the eccentrics 31 and 35 are loose upon the other end C of the hub and the eccentrics are normally spaced apart by means of a flange 36 extending` laterally from the eccentric 31. The end C of the hubV is prolonged as shown to form ample bearing for the eccentrics 31 and 35 and so as to extend outwardly beyond the eccentric 31. The eccentric 31 isformed within the fiange `36 with a series of notches 37 while the eccentric is similarly provided at its internal periphery with notches 38 adapted to register with the notches 37. The two series of notches or recesses constitute clutch elements as will be hereinafter. explained. Slidable `upon the outermost'portion of the hub at the end C is a grooved collar 39 with which are connected a plurality of rods 40 slidable longitudinally of the hub within grooves 4l. The free ends ofthese' rods 41 the notches 37 and which are capable of being likewise engaged within the notches 38. A shifting ring 43 is disposed within the `groove of the collar 39 and has connected therewith one arm 44 of an angle lever piv- `upon therearmost one of the intermediate l frame bars as shown at 49. VThe upperend oftheV lever 48 has pivotally connected therey with a forwardly extending rod 50 which is pivotally connected with a shifting lever 51 disposed near the forward frame bar 10a.

. 4 .In the operationof the device the operator ordinarily pedals'the bicycle by means of the pedals 19 in the usual manner which results in actuation of the pumps-28 and 32 and air will `be compressed therebyand Stored within the tank 25, it being `under-V stood that this time thecontrol valve 26 is `closed to-retain the air within thetanln `When the `rider comes to 4a hillV which he `must ascend he opens thejvalve 26.where uponrthe `compressed Vair Awill actuate the `motor 23 wliichwillfdrive the rear wheel of jthe bicycle. If suflicient quantity of air `has been compressed within the storage tank ,it is possiblethatthe motor will be able to drive the bicycle entirely by itself :and if the qilfantity be insuflicient the motor'willat 69 Lleastassist in'drivingtliebicycle so that the c aetualyelfortonthe part of the driverywill be minimized. .As the rearhub is lequipped-` with anordinary coaster brake device,it ,will `be1apparentthat `when the riderydescends a hill he may hold .his feet stationary and the coasting of the bicycle will of course result in actuation of the pump and storage of compressed air within theytank.

" lt should bestated that the eccentric 3l is formed at the innermost portion of its `inner periphery with an annular channel 52 which leads `into the notches 37. The purpose of this construction is as follows Vilhen the operator shifts thelever 51 and consequently moves, the angle `levers 44 and 4G and shifts thecollar Qt-omove, thek rod 40 in one direction the keys 42 will engage only within the notches 38 of the cam oreccentric 35. It is apparent that theA eccentric 35 V.is the only one which will then be driven operated and the device maybe pedaled in the ordinary manner withoutany more. dificulty than any other-bicycle. Owing to the peculiar construction of this mechanismen the rear axleit is apparent that vthe coaster brake mechanism might be dispensedwith so that it is preferable to have it included.

While l have shownand described the` preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course tobe understood that I reserve the right to make such changes inthe form, construction, and `air-rangement of parts as .will

not depart from the spirit ofthe invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Y Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A motor bicycle comprising'a :frame supported upon forward and rear wheels, a

Acrank -journaled at thelower portion ofthe frame and having pedals and operatively .connected with the'rear wheel whereby to drive the latter, a compressedV air motor sup-A ported by the frame and connected with the Vcrank,-a compressed air storage tankfsup ported by the frame `and having avalved outlet pipe leading toV said motor, .a pump carried by the frame, an eccentric onv the rear axle and driven thereby, and a pitman. connected with said eccentric and with thepiston of saidpump.

2. A motor bicycle comprisingca Aframe supported upon .forward and rear wheels,

Ya crank journaledat the lower portiorrof" the frame'and having pedals and operatively connectedl` with the rear Wheel `whereby to drive the latter, al compressed airmotor supported by thelframe andqconnected Withfthe crank, a compressedar storage tank .sup-

ported by the frame and having e valved outlet pipe leading to seid motor, a pair of pumps carried by the frame, a pair of eccentrics on the reer axle and driven thereby, pitmen connected with said ecoentrios and with the pistons of said pumps, said pumps having outlet pipes leading to said tank, and

means for locking or unlocking said eccentrics with respect to the rear axle whereby either or both may be rendered operative or 10 inoperative.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

JOHN LABAK. 

